BEVERLY HILLS — Lady Gaga pre-empted her speech Thursday night about the need for mental health programs with a warning.

"I feel very much like I do not belong here," the pop star-turned-Oscar-buzzworthy actress said to actors and producers at the SAG-AFTRA Foundation's annual fundraiser Patron Of the Artists Awards, where Spike Lee, Harrison Ford and Jeffrey Katzenberg were also honored.

"So I spent three-and-a-half hours writing what I was going to say. And as I’ve been sitting here all night, I’ve been going, ‘Oh my God, your speech is too long and everybody’s going to get bored.’ "

At about 20 minutes, the speech was long, yes. But the room of actors was riveted by what Gaga said from the podium about kindness, mental health outreach and her own struggles.

"We are losing a generation of young people who do not believe that their voices are worth hearing," she said, suggesting that SAG-AFTRA partner with Gaga's Born This Way Foundation to provide mental health teams for those suffering. "The need in this world for kindness is paralyzing. The negative news and tragedies are nonstop and overwhelming."

Lady Gaga pushing for more mental health programs at #patronawards: “We are losing a generation of young people who do not believe that their voices are worth hearing.” pic.twitter.com/Oomw49sgQw

"We need to share our stories so that global mental health no longer resides and festers in the darkness," she said. "It is dangerous and we know this, because amongst other shootings and acts of violence, just last night there was a shooting in Thousand Oaks by a veteran who was believed to have suffered from untreated post-traumatic-stress disorder (according to authorities he had an episode of erratic behavior last spring that suggested PTSD) which is a mental issue. We know that this is dangerous, we know that it’s important and we have to pay attention to it."

Lady Gaga continued: "When I speak about mental health, especially when I’m speaking about mine, it is often met with quietness. Or maybe, a somber line of fans, waiting outside to whisper to me in the shadows about their darkest secrets. We need to bring mental health into the light."

As a way of example, Gaga shared her own "list" of issues she's had to deal with.

She's had "symptoms of dissociation and PTSD" which turned into "physical chronic pain, fibromyalgia, panic attacks, acute trauma responses and debilitating mental spirals that have included suicidal ideation and masochistic behavior."

After years of saying 'yes' to every job opportunity she was offered, the word 'yes' "became too automatic, and my inner voice shut down, which I have learned now is very unhealthy," she said. "I was not empowered to say no. I began to notice that I would stare off into space and black out for seconds or minutes. I would see flashes of things I was tormented by, experiences that were filed away.

"I’m telling you this, because for me it was too late," she said. "I wish I had mental health resources then."

The evening's MC, Rachel Bloom, was so compelled by Gaga's speech that she opened up about her own mental illnesses before closing the show.

"I, too, suffer from anxiety and depression. I thank God every day for my Prozac. And part of the reason I have treatment is because I can afford it," Bloom said. "I just want to say thank you to Lady Gaga for that speech."

Posted!

A link has been posted to your Facebook feed.

On Thursday night in Beverly Hills, the SAG-AFTRA Foundation honored Harrison Ford, Lady Gaga, Spike Lee and Jeffrey Katzenberg. The third-annual event, called the Patron of the Artists Awards, raised money for programs that benefit actors. Plenty of stars were there for support, including Ryan Gosling who toasted his "Blade Runner 2049" co-star from the stage. Charley Gallay, (Credit too long, see caption)

Sam Elliott introduced his "Star is Born" co-star Gaga, who he called Stefanie, as someone with "a voice like no other that seems to resonate from somewhere deep in her soul." Look who's talking. Charley Gallay, (Credit too long, see caption)

Bloom opened the show by sharing anecdotes about the struggles of being an actor and how she recalls a time a casting director didn't want to shake her hand. "It happened to me once for 'Last Man Standing,'" she said. "It didn't go well." Jon Kopaloff, FilmMagic

Gaga accepted her award with an impassioned speech about mental health. "We are losing a generation of young people who do not believe that their voices are worth hearing," she said, advocating for more programs that could help. LISA O'CONNOR, AFP/Getty Images

Adam Driver, left, poses with Henry Winkler, Spike Lee, one of the night's honorees, and Geoffrey Owens. Winkler presented at the event with Owens. The two talked about how their lives went very different directions after they both had successful TV shows ("Happy Days" and "The Cosby Show," respectively). Charley Gallay, (Credit too long, see caption)